PC Technician Street Smarts, Updated for the 2009 Exam: A Real World Guide to CompTIA A+ Skills » (Updated)

James Pyles, A+, Network+, CCNA, is an experienced instructor and author. He is currently a developmental editor for Global Support Content Operations at Hewlett-Packard (HP). James has been involved in numerous Ethernet rollout projects, software and hardware installations and upgrades, and Windowsand UNIX operating system upgrades. He has written and edited numerous books, including Sybex's MCTS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Configuration Study Guide and the first edition of PC Technician Street Smarts.

An inside look into the life of a PC technician-from everyday tasks to the challenging roadblocks

Gaining hands-on experience is considered the most difficult part of trying to break into the PC technician. Building on the standards set by CompTIA-and endorsed by the IT industry worldwide-this book takes you one step further than what you might simply learn in a classroom and shows you how to actually perform the various tasks you can expect to encounter on the job.

The Street Smarts series is designed to help current or aspiring IT professionals put their certification to work for them. Full of practical, real world scenarios, each book features actual tasks from the field and then offers step-by-step exercises that teach the skills necessary to complete those tasks. Broken down into the various aspects of a PC technician's job, this book provides you with step-by-step guidance for performing some of the most common and some of the most daunting tasks PC technicians face.

• Includes detailed instructions for performing the everyday tasks and handling the difficult scenarios that a PC technician faces on a daily basis
• Covers hardware and software installation and maintenance as well as installing and upgrading operating systems, networks, and security systems
• Provides step-by-step guidance for installing or replacing a power supply or laptop hard drive, upgrading Windows XP to Vista, scanning and removing viruses, and installing printer drivers

Whether you're looking to break into the field of PC technicians, are pursuing your A+ certification, or are seeking some unique guidance to performing real-world tasks, this resource isessential.

1 Phase 1: Installing Hardware and Software.

2 Phase 2: Maintaining and Documenting Computer Systems.

3 Phase 3: Networking Computer Systems.

4 Phase 4: Troubleshooting and Restoring Computer Systems.